Many different activities can qualify as CPD/LLL. Deciding on what is "relevant" is up to the individual RICS member because learning is based upon personal assessment.

Don't restrict your learning to formal training courses, seminars and workshops. RICS like many other professional bodies recognises there are many other relevant methods of learning.

This section provides a checklist of some activities or events from which you may be able to obtain a learning outcome. These sources can be grouped into four main categories:

1. Professional work-based activities
2. Self-directed and informal learning
3. Personal activities outside work
4. Courses, seminars and conferences

Work-based activities (on-the-job development)

• business management skills
• coaching/mentoring
• personnel management skills
• planning and running an in-house training event
• internal discussion groups
• adviser/consultancy positions
• arbitrator/expert witness/adjudicator
• professional interviews
• voluntary (professional) work
• special project work
• staff training
• study of a foreign language may be relevant if you work in an international context
• information technology
• secondment – transfer to another department

Professional Meetings, Panels and Working Groups

• faculty and forum work
• course accreditation exercises
• APC/ATC assessor preparation
• NVQ assessor/internal verifier training
• external examiner positions
• regional officer ie organisational skills

Presentations and Publications

• research for publications and papers
• preparation for presentations to colleagues, clients, faculty groupings, national and local associations
• participation in public meetings
• lecturing on careers/the profession

Self-directed and informal learning
Private study, structured reading is one of the most efficient and cost effective ways for members to broaden their knowledge in areas of general professional interest and also in more specialised areas. There are savings to be made from using this service both in terms of time and money. Suggested sources of information are:

internet sites of professional interest
• books, journals, magazines, newspapers
• technical manuals
• research papers
• CD-ROM disks, videos, audio tapes
• transcript of speeches/conference items, lecture/seminar notes
• reports/guidance notes issued by professional bodies
• CPD study packs

Personal activities outside the workplace
Skills acquired from personal activities outside the workplace are just as relevant to the development of personal competence.

• Voluntary (non-professional) work. Active involvement with voluntary/charitable organisations can be a rewarding experience. You may be learning about applications for grants and lottery funding or developing skills in organising/running meetings.
• School governor, JP, member of PTA. These activities can broaden knowledge and understanding of many issues and institutions which form part of the broad context of people management.
• Parish council/other local government work
• Youth groups
• Local business community boards eg Chamber of Commerce
  

Training Courses and Conferences

• Training courses and seminars – in-house or external – on any topic of relevance to your professional and personal development
• Long-term qualifications and projects (6 months or more) eg full/part-time study, open distance learning, contributions to original research